It’s been an emotional couple weeks in the Lund house which I’m going to go ahead and use as an excuse for my blog keyboard being quiet. That and there being no comments to the last effort which, for a sensitive writer like myself, causes considerable anxiety and self-doubt.
Anyway, regular readers know that few couples get along better than Linda and me (Linda and I?? Never did get that right) but we had a doozy of a dispute which resulted in words said..doors slammed..and a couple days of silence in separate corners of the house. I only share this because I sometimes write here so glowingly about us and all the fun times it seems only fair to let you know that even in the best of relationships, differences of opinions can and do arise; each are convinced they’re right and say so. Stubbornness and pride prevail until, weary of the standoff, somebody quietly knocks on the other’s door..apologies are offered and accepted..before long..thank God..everything is back to normal.
This time, though, our quarrel came to an abrupt end after a phone call from my nephew, Mitch who said his dad..my brother Denny..had been taken to the hospital and was in the ICU where he was about to undergo a procedure to stop internal bleeding. Denny is four years my senior and, even though I outwardly hated him growing up because of all the typical big brother teasing and tormenting…inwardly he was and still is my idol.
Denny has been dealing with erratic heart rhythm problems for years and, after a mini stroke in 2008, has been on a blood thinning medication. He’s also on medication for Parkinson’s and a bunch of other ailments. (Look up crest syndrome..it has nothing to do with toothpaste) In the hospital he underwent 3 procedures to deal with his problems and now he’s staring at the walls and little TV at Good Samaritan on 46th and Marion Road awaiting his next rehab session. There’s no prognosis and no time table for how long he’ll be there.
Judy, Denny’s wife, knows all about those husband/wife fights..having lived with my brother for..what will be 50 years this December..but even though she, herself, is in desperate need of shoulder surgery, has barely left Denny’s side through these tough times. She, like the rest of us, keeps looking for a silver lining in the dark clouds that keep drifting over Denny’s illness and hopes for recovery.
Spiritually speaking, I’ve been such a doubting Douglas lately that I hesitate to request others, who know me, appeal to the Deity on my brother’s behalf. But just like his illness allowed Linda and I to put aside petty differences and instinctively find agreement on what’s really important, I ask you to look beyond my perceived religious hypocrisy and lift Denny up by whatever means you feel will get the challenge met.
I really appreciate it, but there’s no need to comment or acknowledge your thoughts and prayers. I just hope you’ll really do it and that God will hear and God will heal my brother.
